FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  

Del-­‐York  International  brings  New  York  Film  Academy  to  Lagos!  

LAGOS,   NIGERIA,   June   7,   2011   –   Del-­‐York   International   is   partnering   with   the  

prestigious  New  York  Film  Academy  (NYFA)  to  host  another  four-­‐week  filmmaking  
training   program   in   Nigeria.   The   program   will   run   from   8   August   to   3   September  
2011  at  a  prime  facility  in  Badagary,  situated  in  the  vibrant  city  of  Lagos.    

The  event  will  mark  the  second  annual  edition  of  a  five-­‐year  collaboration  between  
NYFA   and   Del-­‐York   International,   a   leading   media   and   communications   company  
that  is  committed  to  transforming  Nigeria’s  creative  industries   by   delivering   world-­‐
class  media  consultancy  and  capacity-­‐building  services.  

The   inaugural   training   program   was   held   in   March   2010,   when   Del-­‐York  
International   and   NYFA   successfully   hosted   and   trained   400   African   students   in  
Abuja.  Out  of  these  graduates,  122  are  now  gainfully  employed  in  the  entertainment  
sector.   Recognizing   the   program’s   cultural   and   economic   importance,   the   Rivers  
State  Government  and  the  Niger  Delta  Development  Commission  (NDDC)  sponsored  
120  and  250  students  respectively.    

This  year,  the  program  seeks  to  increase  its  turnout  by  over  100%  and  train  1,000  
youths.   The   NDDC   will   collaborate   with   the   program   for   the   second   time   to   cover  
tuition  fees  for  250  students.    

Other   high   profile   bodies   that   have   agreed   to   support  what   is   undoubtedly   the   most  
intensive,   hands-­‐on   film   training   program   in   the   world   include   the   Edo   State  
Government,   which   will   sponsor   18   indigenes   to   attend   the   program.   In   addition,  
the  Ministry  of  Education  will  sponsor  another  50  students.  

Sixty   instructors   from   NYFA’s   New   York   and   Los   Angeles   campuses,   including  
Hollywood   practitioners,   will   instruct   this   year’s   students   in   various   filmmaking  
techniques.   The   training   program   will   offer   14   workshops:   Filmmaking;   Acting;  
Directing;  Final  Cut  Pro;  Digital  Photography;  Cinematography;  3-­‐D  Animation;  
Producing;  Screenwriting;  Broadcast  Journalism;  Costume  Design  &  Make–up;  
Set  Design;  Graphic  Design  &  Special  effects  and  Music  Video  Production.  

“The  face  of  filmmaking  in  Africa  has  begun  taking  shape  rapidly.  Thus,  the  need  for  
aspiring   filmmakers   to   be   better   equipped   with   the   knowledge   of   telling   the   African  
story   beautifully   is   imperative,”   says   Del-­‐York   International   Managing  
Director/CEO,   Linus   Idahosa.   “This   four-­‐week   training   program   will   provide  
students  with  the  opportunity  to  gain  hands-­‐on  experience  that  will  enable  them  to  
efficiently  create  strong  films,  sophisticated  enough  for  international  distribution.”  

8A, Justice Modupe Omo-Eboh Street (Formerly Reeve road), Off Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
Tel: +234 (01) 8132237
www.delyorkinternational.com
 
  
"Having   worked   on   the   crew   of   some   of   the   top   TV   shows   in   Nigeria,   my  
expectations   were   very   high   when   I   decided   to   undertake   this   program.   However,  
the   quality   of   knowledge   impacted   into   me   surpassed   my   wildest   imagination,”   says  
Deji   Ajose-­‐Ojikutu,   Producer   of   Celebrity   Takes   2   and   Del-­‐York/NYFA   Training  
Program  2010  graduate.    

The   training   program   seeks   to   inspire   future   visual   storytellers   to   use   the   African  
film   industry   to   increase   a   better   understanding   of   African   culture   globally.   In  
addition,   it   aims   to   develop   a   wider,   non-­‐African   audience   for   our   cinema   by  
expanding   the   opportunities   for   hands-­‐on   training   and   film   distribution  
internationally.      

Online  application  entries  for  the  Del-­‐York/NYFA  Training  Program  will  close  on  18  
July   2011   at   1700   hours   (GMT+1).     Scholarship   applications   will   close   on   4   July  
2011  at  1700  hours  (GMT+1).    

Please  visit  www.delyorkinternational.com  for  further  information.  

About  Del-­‐York  International    

Del-­‐York   International   is   a   full   service   media   and   broadcast   communications  

consultancy  and  is  the  sole  representative  of  the  New  York  Film  Academy  in  Nigeria.  

The  company’s  comprehensive  approach  to  the  advocacy  of  African  film  and  culture  
is   mindful   that   media   and   cinema   are   as   much   platforms   for   socio-­‐economic   and  
cultural  exchange  as  they  are  educational  gateways.    

About  the  Managing  Director/  CEO,  Del-­‐York  International  

Mr.   Linus   Idahosa   is   a   well-­‐respected   international   media   consultant   and   CNN  

accredited  agent  in  Nigeria.  He  has  offered  consultancy  services  to  some  of  Nigeria's  
biggest  blue  chip  companies,  helping  to  raise  their  visibility  on  various  international  
platforms.  The  brain  behind  Del-­‐York  International,  Mr.  Idahosa  seeks  to  re-­‐position  
and   re-­‐define   the   future   of   Nigeria's   film   industry   and   ultimately,   Africa’s   film  
industry.  

As   a   strong   visionary,   Mr.   Idahosa   is   fully   aware   of   the   direction   the   African   film  
industry  is  moving  towards.  To  ensure  that  momentum  is  not  lost,  he  is  dedicated  to  
equipping  future  filmmakers  with  the  skill  set  needed  to  influence  and  comment  on  
their  society  on  the  international  stage.  

8A, Justice Modupe Omo-Eboh Street (Formerly Reeve road), Off Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
Tel: +234 (01) 8132237
www.delyorkinternational.com
 
  
 

About  New  York  Film  Academy  

The  New  York  Film  Academy's  School  of  Film  and  Acting  is  the  school  of  choice  for  
many   Hollywood   luminaries,   who   have   sent   their   family   members   to   study   with  
them.   They   include   actors   like   Al   Pacino,   Robert   Downey   Jr.,   Jamie   Foxx,   Jodie  
Foster,   Kevin   Kline,   Pierce   Brosnan,   Susan   Sarandon   and   Tim   Robbins;   musicians  
like   Bono   (U2)   and   directors   like   Steven   Spielberg,   Stephen   Frears,   Peter  
Bogdonavich,   Roger   Donaldson   and   James   L.   Brooks   among   others.  
 
The   Film   Academy   was   founded   on   the   philosophy   that   "learning   by   doing"  
combined   with   best   industry   practices   is   more   valuable   than   years   of   theoretical  
study  for  filmmakers  and  actors.  This  educational  model  allows  students  to  achieve  
more  in  less  time  than  at  all  other  film  or  acting  schools  in  the  world.  

The   Del-­‐York   and   NYFA   Training   Program   seeks   to   build   the   necessary   human  
capacity  required  to  achieve  this  transformation  in  the  African  film  industry.  

Media  Contact  
Ms.  Chinaka  Iwunze  
Head,  Media  &  Communications    
Del-­‐York  International  
+234  813-­‐556-­‐1654  |  c.iwunze@delyorkinternational.com    
Address:  8a  Justice  Modupe  Omo-­‐Eboh  road  (former  Reeve  road),  Off  Glover  Road,  
Ikoyi,  Lagos,  Nigeria.  

 
 
 
 
 

8A, Justice Modupe Omo-Eboh Street (Formerly Reeve road), Off Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
Tel: +234 (01) 8132237
www.delyorkinternational.com
 
  
TRANSFORMING  NIGERIA’S  FILM  INDUSTRY:  THE  ANGLE  AND  AGENDA  OF  
DEL-­‐YORK  INTERNATIONAL  

By  Smart  Okotie  

Against  the  backdrop  of  the  many  challenges  that  have  been  limiting  the  growth  of  
the   Nigerian   film   and   media   industry,   Del-­‐York   International   was   established   with  
the   aim   of   bringing   about   a   variety   of   positive   changes;   chief   among   these   is   Human  
Capital  Development.  

The   industry   of   making   and   showing   films   was   introduced   to   Nigeria   during   the  
colonial   era.   By   the   1960s,   the   industry   had   established   a   firm   presence   in   our  
society,   providing   audio-­‐visual   entertainment   to   Nigerians   across   the   country,  
concentrated   in   the   cities   of   Lagos   and   Ibadan.   The   likes   of   Ola   Balogun,   Eddy  
Ugbomah   and   Hubert   Ogunde   gave   the   young   industry   a   relative   boom,   attracting  
large  audiences  to  cinema  houses  with  captivating  themes  and  titles.  

However,   the   Nigerian   economic   downturn   of   the   1980s   led   to   increased   difficulties  
in   financing   projects   and   diminished   access   to   imported   celluloid   film   stock.   The  
resulting   collapse   of   indigenous   cinema   culture   made   it   possible   for   foreign   film  
cultures  –  including  Indian,  Chinese,  British  and  American  –  packaged  in  VHS  tapes  
to   take   over   the   ‘opportunity-­‐space’   for   local   productions.   For   several   years,  
Nigerian  productions  were  literally  nowhere  to  be  found.  

The  once-­‐popular  celluloid  acts  such  as  Ade  Love  and  Baba  Sala  faded  out  of  public  
consciousness,   to   become   testimonies   against   the   absence   of   protection   and  
encouragement  for  indigenous  film  producers,  actors  and  actresses.  

The   1992   experimental   success   of   ‘Living   in   Bondage’,   an   indigenous   VHS    

production  masterminded  by  the  electronics  dealer  Kenneth  Nnebue  sparked  a  wild  
rush   for   fame   and   fortune   by   all   manners   of   persons.   Overnight,   Nollywood   –   the  
modern  Nigerian  video  film  industry  –  was  born,  in  which  everybody  and  anybody  
who   could   either   lay   hands   on   a   camera   or   confidently   run   the   rickety   lines   of   a  
questionable  script  joined  the  bandwagon.    

8A, Justice Modupe Omo-Eboh Street (Formerly Reeve road), Off Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
Tel: +234 (01) 8132237
www.delyorkinternational.com
 
  
The  rejuvenation  of  Nigeria’s  film  industry  was  characterized  by  the  culture  of  chaos  
in   which   street-­‐logic   underpinned   marketing   and   promotional   strategies.  
Productions  were  completed  in  shocking  speed  and  subsequently  released  to  a  huge  
market  of  enthusiastic  viewers.    

Today,   the   question   of   quality   still   confronts   the   Nigerian   film   industry   despite   its  
reputation  one  of  the  most  prolific  industries  in  the  international  market.  Though  a  
new   crop   of   filmmakers   creating   ‘cinema-­‐quality’   products   have   begun   to   emerge,  
the  number  of  low-­‐budget  and  low-­‐quality  films  remains  overwhelmingly  high.    

The   film   industry   is   a   national   asset   that   can   influence   thoughts,   perceptions   and  
conducts   in   virtually   all-­‐human   activity   contexts.   From   employment-­‐generation   to    
international   power-­‐projection,   film   generates   far-­‐reaching   results   that   make   for  
profound  national  progress.    

Such   a   powerful   industry   should   not   be   left   at   the   margins   of   our   country’s  
development   planning   processes.   Del-­‐York   International   believes   that   Nigeria  
deserves  the  best  that  it  can  possibly  earn  from  the  wealth  of  its  film  and  creative  
talents.   And   so   in   our   national   quest   for   genuine   and   lasting   development,   the   art   of  
telling   our   unique   stories   to   the   world   in   the   form   of   world-­‐class   movies   is  
imperative.   We   need   to   nurture   and   maintain   a   growing   population   of   Nigerians  
who  are  highly  proficient  in  this  art  and  business.  

In   2010,   for   a   whole   month   spanning   from   8th   March   to   3rd   April,   Del-­‐York  
International   brought   the   New   York   Film   Academy   (NYFA)   to   Nigeria   to   train   400  
Nigerians,   of   which   122   are   currently   in   paid   employment   in   different   aspects   of  
filmmaking.  The  world’s  foremost  hands-­‐on  film  training  school  was  in  Africa  for  the  
first   time   in   its   history,   bringing   36   instructors   to   Abuja   with   the   goal   of   exposing  
young   and   aspiring   Nigerian   filmmakers   to   various   aspects   of   world-­‐class   film  
production.   This   year,   Del-­‐York   International   is   partnering   with   NYFA   again   to   train  
over  1,000  aspiring  filmmakers  in  Lagos  with  the  facilitation  of  60  NYFA  instructors  
from  its  campuses  in  New  York  and  Los  Angeles.    

8A, Justice Modupe Omo-Eboh Street (Formerly Reeve road), Off Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
Tel: +234 (01) 8132237
www.delyorkinternational.com
 
  
Del-­‐York  International  is  genuinely  concerned  about  the  human  capital  situation  in  
Nigeria’s  film  industry.  There  is  pressing  need  for  government  and  for  institutions  to  
recognize   this   challenge   and   to   encourage   initiatives   that   are   set   to   address   it.   A  
productive   film   industry   means   increased   tax   revenues   for   the   state   as   well   as   high-­‐
quality  media  production  resources  for  the  private  sector’s  branding  initiatives.  

This  unique  initiative  of  Del-­‐York  International  is  primarily  about  setting  the  human  
capital   premise   for   the   transformation   of   this   dynamic   and   indispensable   modern  
industry   in   Nigeria   and   the   rest   of   Africa   into   a   major   international   hub   for   the  
production  of  real  African  stories.  Del-­‐York  International  seeks  a  new  order  in  the  
industry  that  will  positively  alter  the  prevailing  perceptions  and  conclusions  about  
the  global  African  presence.  

8A, Justice Modupe Omo-Eboh Street (Formerly Reeve road), Off Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
Tel: +234 (01) 8132237
www.delyorkinternational.com
 
  
OVERVIEW   OF   THE   DEL-­‐YORK/NYFA   FILMMAKING   &   ACTING   TRAINING  
PROGRAM  

Summary:    

In   2010,   our   inaugural   four-­‐week   training   program   offered   six   filmmaking  

workshops:   Digital   Filmmaking;   Acting;   Producing;   Screenwriting;   3-­‐D  
Animation  and  Editing.  This  resulted  in  the  certification  of  400  students.    

This   year,   Del-­‐York   International   and   the   New   York   Film   Academy   will   introduce  
eight  new  workshops  to  the  program:  Photography;  Broadcast  Journalism;  Final  
Cut   Pro;   Music   Video   Production;   Set   Design;   Costume   Design   &   Make-­‐Up;  
Graphics  &  Special  Effects;  Cinematography.  

For  more  detailed  workshop  descriptions,  please  visit:  

www.delyorkinternational.com/classes.php?page=classes  
 
Fees:  

• Application  Fee  (Non-­‐Refundable):    N  3000  ($USD  20)  

• Tuition  fee:  $USD  3,500  
• Feeding  &  Accommodation:    $USD  1,500  
 

Applications:  

• Online  Application  deadline:  18  July  2011,  17h00  hours  (GMT  +1)  
• Scholarship  Application  deadline:  4  July  2011,  17h00  hours  (GMT  +1)  
 

8A, Justice Modupe Omo-Eboh Street (Formerly Reeve road), Off Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
Tel: +234 (01) 8132237
www.delyorkinternational.com
 
  
DEL-­‐YORK  INTERNATIONAL  ONLINE  SOCIAL  NETWORKS  
 
Del-­‐York  International  website:  
http://www.delyorkinternational.com  
 
Del-­‐York  International  Facebook  page:    
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Del-­‐York-­‐International/205045992849845  
 
Del-­‐York  International  Facebook  group:  "Making  African  movies":  
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_143490565724369&ap=1  
 
Del-­‐York  International  on  Flickr:  
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delyork  
 
Del-­‐York  International  YouTube  channel:  
http://www.youtube.com/user/DelYorkIntl?feature=mhum  
 
Del-­‐York  International  on  Twitter:    
http://twitter.com/#!/DelYorkIntl  
 
Del-­‐York  International  on  Scribd:  
http://www.scribd.com/del_yorkn  
 
 
 
 
 

8A, Justice Modupe Omo-Eboh Street (Formerly Reeve road), Off Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos
Tel: +234 (01) 8132237
www.delyorkinternational.com